the fact that burma sits in a strategic location with two emerging powers as its neighbors, china and india. it is about a country in transition. the message he gave to burma is in the city has given to the middle east as well. >> how much of the visit was about trying to contain china and show if the u.s. will be a player in the region? >> it reinforces the dynamic of the administration with burma, cambodia, vietnam, welcoming and encouraging the united states to be engaged in asia as a balancing force against a rising china. >> you work at the state department during negotiations. what was driving it then? >> it is a globalized world. when you have countries in isolation, they are capable of doing nasty things. burma has a relationship with korea. there was concern in the first two years burma was giving significant assistance to north korea and undercutting the strategy of isolating the country. being able to flip burma puts additional pressure on a country like north korea. >> how does the u.s. measure progress toward democracy? what does it do if berman stepped back? >> now the united